Gareth Southgate doesn’t believe England are one of the world’s top four teams despite finishing fourth in the 2018 World Cup on Saturday. “In the end, we are very proud of what we’ve done. We’re under no illusions as to where we stand as a team; we’ve finished in the final four but we’re not a top-four team yet, we know that, and we’ve never hidden behind that,” Southgate said. “Against the very best teams, we’ve come up short, but we’ve had a wonderful adventure and some experiences that will stand this group of players and staff in really good…
Author: David Folami
Roberto Martinez has said his players were deserving of their historic third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup following Saturday’s 2-0 victory over England. “It’s all about that achievement. I think these players deserve that,” said Martinez after the match. “What we have seen in this World Cup is that the players did not want to rely on talent anymore, they wanted to rely on working as a team, becoming a group of players that would do anything to achieve results.” Belgium had only three days to recover from a devastating semifinal loss to neighbours France which ended their dream…
Wow. After the final whistle, after the trophy presentation, after the slides on the glitter-strewn turf by the French players, after even the French fans have stopped singing, the mind is still buzzing, the heart still racing. There’s an unwritten law that World Cup finals aren’t meant to be like this; they are meant to be tight, controlled, cautious affairs punctuated by a goal when everyone has gone to sleep (or in 2010, frozen stiff). This match had everything – six goals (as many as the previous four finals together), an own goal, two goals that were controversial to say…
Luka Modric accepted the Golden Ball award as the best player at the World Cup after his side lost to France 4-2 in Sunday’s final. Modric scored two goals in the group stage and converted both of his attempts in penalty shootouts to help Croatia reach the final. The Real Madrid star embraced Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic after being given the award by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Russia President Vladimir Putin in a rainy postgame ceremony. “I am proud of the award,” Modric said. “The incredible fan support makes me even happier. You know that despite the defeat you’ve…
Thibaut Courtois has suggested that Chelsea will need to increase their contract offer to convince him to stay at Stamford Bridge after his impressive performances at the World Cup. Courtois has just one year left to run on his current contract, and Chelsea have reportedly offered him a long-term extension worth around £200,000-a-week — but the Belgian believes he has proven he is worth more with his form in Russia. “I will go back and I will see what they want and how they say it,” he said, according to the Telegraph. “Obviously, with this World Cup, I think what…
Juan Mata is hoping a strong season at Manchester United will help him regain a place in the Spain team that is now led by Luis Enrique. A 2010 World Cup winner and 2012 European champion, Mata only featured once for Spain under Lopetegui, in a 2-2 friendly draw with England in November 2016. “I will do everything in my power to return to the national team,” the 30-year-old midfielder, who has scored 10 goals in 41 appearances for Spain, said to Marca. “I hope the new coach will count on me because I’m going to do everything possible to…
Wayne Rooney has said that England will find more international success if foreign Premier League coaches have “a little bit more faith in young English players.” England’s longtime captain and all-time top scorer never reached the semifinals of a major tournament with the Three Lions before his international retirement in 2016, and he was succinct when asked to name the biggest obstacle facing up-and-coming English players. “Playing. Just to continue playing in their clubs,” Rooney said on Thursday. “I think there’s more homegrown players, well not more, but homegrown players get a chance and they stay in the team, in…
The decision was a turning point as Griezmann scored to put France into a lead they would never relinquish, as Les Bleus went on to win 4-2. Dalic said he thought such a decision had no place in a game of such magnitude. “We played well but the penalty knocked the wind out of us and after that it was very difficult,” Dalic said after congratulating France on their victory. “I just want to say one sentence about that penalty: You don’t give a penalty like that in a World Cup final.” Dalic also stood by his tactics and plans…
Luke Shaw is prepared to walk away from Manchester United on a free transfer next summer if his first-team prospects at Old Trafford do not improve, sources have said. The 23-year-old is in the squad for the preseason tour of the United States and, according to sources, is hopeful of becoming Jose Mourinho’s first-choice left-back next season. United would like Shaw to sign a new deal to protect an asset that cost nearly £30 million in 2014, but sources have said that he is ready to keep his options open, including walking away for free next summer, if he cannot…
Robert Lewandowski has had a change of heart and now wants to stay at Bayern Munich next season, according to reports. In June, the Bayern striker’s agent Pini Zahavi said Lewandowski was seeking “a new challenge,” with the club’s top scorer from last season hoping to catch the eye of interested clubs with his performances for Poland at the World Cup. Now, according to the report, Lewandowski has decided to stay at Bayern this coming season under Niko Kovac. And incoming manager Kovac praised his star striker at his presentation as Bayern’s coach last Monday. “I think he’s a world…
D.C. United forward Wayne Rooney made his Major League Soccer debut in a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps Saturday. The former Manchester United star was surprisingly not in the starting lineup for the match but was one of the seven available substitutes for coach Ben Olsen in the teams’s first game at Audi Field. The former England captain entered the field for the first time in the second half, coming on for striker Darren Mattocks in the 58th minute and didn’t take long before making an impact as he provided the assist for D.C.’s second goal of the night.…
Eden Hazard has hinted he may look to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, telling reporters, “it might be time to discover something different” after Belgium’s 2-0 victory over England in the World Cup’s third-place game on Saturday. The 27-year-old scored a goal to help give his country their best-ever finish at a World Cup tournament and afterward threw his club future in doubt. “After six wonderful years at Chelsea, it might be time to discover something different,” Hazard said. “Certainly after this World Cup, I can decide if I want to stay or go, but Chelsea will make the final…
President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday evening arrived Netherlands ahead of his scheduled visit to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. President Buhari was welcomed by Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, President of the ICC, Vice-President of the Court, Marc Perrin de Brichambut and the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama. Others at the airport to welcome the Nigerian leader were Mr Oji Ngofa, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Mr Robert Petri, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Nigeria. Also on hand to receive the President and his delegation were Lt.Col Veenhuijzen, Aide-De-Camp to His…
Garba Shehu has issued a statement mocking the Ekiti state Governor, Ayo Fayose. The President’s spokesman said “In what observers said was the most intense, and a most angry campaign, the people gave their verdict: Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the one-time governor, declared persona-non-grata is now persona-grata again. “President Buhari has won this referendum. The people of the state have sent a clear message. The politics of brinksmanship, assaults, insults, abuses and Robin Hoodism disguised as stomach infrastructure has been rejected in favour of politics of inclusion, development, responsibility and good governance. “President Buhari’s war against corruption and insecurity; the message…
Dr Kayode Fayemi has described his victory in Saturday’s governorship election as one “ for reclaiming the land and restoring Ekiti values.” Fayemi spoke on Sunday while addressing newsmen in Isan-Ekiti shortly after he was declared the winner of the governorship election. He said: ” The victory of this election, I believe, is for reclaiming the land and restoring the values of our people. “Our values in Ekiti are respect for our leaders, commitment to our people, non brigandage, nor criminality and so on. ” This victory is a victory for all, it is not a victory for only Gov.…
Bukola Saraki has congratulated the Ekiti state Governor-elect, Kayode Fayemi. Fayemi was declared the winner of the July 14, 2018 governorship election. Saraki prayed that the almighty will guide Fayemi as he prepares to assume office. It reads: “Congratulations to Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Governor-elect of Ekiti State on your victory in yesterday’s gubernatorial election. May the Almighty guide you as you prepare to assume Office, and may your tenure bring more development to the State and improve the lives of its people.” Ambode of Lagos state has also congratulated Fayemi. Ambode called on the Governor-elect to ensure progress comes…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said that the just concluded Saturday governorship election was generally successful. Mr Oluwole Osaze -Uzzi said this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja. He said while the deployment of logistics went as planned, over 92 per cent of the polling units commenced on schedule. “Basically, the election was generally successful. We are happy that the logistic delivery went in accordance to the way it was planned. “Over 92 per cent of the polling units opened as scheduled. We are satisfied with the conduct of the…
John-Kayode Fayemi of the APC has been elected Governor of Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria. Based on the votes secured, INEC’s Chief Returning Officer for the election, Professor Idowu Olayinka, has declared Fayemi the winner. Fayemi won in 12 local governments. PDP’s Eleka won in 4. Fayemi polled a vote total of 197,459. 49-year-old Eleka secured 178, 121 votes. There was a vote differential of 19, 338. The election had instances of vote buying and was marred by violence in certain areas. Fayemi served as Ekiti Governor from 2010 to 2014 until he was prevented from a second term by Fayose.…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday, assured the people of Ekiti and Nigerians that it is best placed to move the country forward and resolve all seemingly intractable problems. The party gave the assurance in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abudullahi, in Abuja, while congratulating Dr. Kayode Fayemi, its candidate in the just-concluded governorship election in Ekiti. Result of the poll, which held on Saturday, was announced by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday. “We assure the people of Ekiti, and indeed Nigerians, that our party is best placed to move the country…
Mr Uche Secondus has urged Nigerians who believe in democracy not to be deterred by the outcome of Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti. He said that what was needed was patience, adding that “justice has the stamina to go all the way to the destination while injustice cannot”. The chairman appreciated Nigerians, particularly those who stood by the party during the struggle for Ekiti and assured them that justice would prevail. He said that PDP knew from inception that rescuing Nigeria from anti-democratic forces was not going to be easy. He, however, said that the party remained emboldened by the…